Connected Audio Content

ABSTRACT

The presently claimed invention relates to connecting audio signals to associated information. One claim recites a method comprising: using a microphone, capturing data representing ambient audio; using a programmed electronic processor, analyzing captured data to extract identifying information therefrom; communicating the identifying information to a remotely located database; in response to said communicating, receiving music information associated with the identifying information, said music information including licensing options for a general type of music associated with the captured data. A related claim recites that the music information also includes purchase options for a specific song title for the capture data. Of course, other combinations and claims are provided as well.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/275,530, filed Nov. 21, 2008 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,650,010)which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/927,075,filed Oct. 29, 2007 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,590,259), which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/338,032, filed Jan.6, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,349,552), which is a divisional of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/563,664, filed May 2, 2000 (now U.S. Pat.No. 6,505,160), which is a continuation in part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/476,686, filed Dec. 30, 1999 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,562,392), which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.60/134,782, filed May 19, 1999. The 11/927,075 application is also acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/338,031, filed Jan.1, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,333,957), which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/563,664, filed May 2, 2000 (now U.S. Pat.No. 6,505,160). The 09/563,664 application is a continuation in part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/746,613 filed Nov. 12, 1996 (nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,122,403), which is a continuation in part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 08/649,419, filed May 16, 1996 (U.S. Pat. No.5,862,260), PCT Application PCT/US96/06618, filed May 7, 1996, and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 08/508,083, filed Jul. 27, 1995 (U.S. Pat.No. 5,841,978).

The subject matter of the present application is related to thatdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,260, and in application Ser. No.08/746,613, filed Nov. 12, 1996 (U.S. Pat. No. 6,122,403); 09/343,104,filed Jun. 29, 1999; 60/164,619, filed Nov. 10, 1999; 09/476,686, filedDec. 30, 1999 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,562,392); 09/503,881, filed Feb. 14, 2000(U.S. Pat. No. 6,614,914); 09/525,865, filed Mar. 15, 2000 (U.S. Pat.No. 6,611,607); 60/191,778 filed March 24; and 09/547,664, filed Apr.12, 2000 (U.S. Pat. No. 7,206,820), which are hereby incorporated byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to linking audio and other multimedia data objectswith metadata and actions via a communication network, e.g., computer,broadcast, wireless, etc.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Advances in computer and wireless networking, multimedia coding, andhigher bandwidth communication links are creating many new ways todistribute and enjoy multimedia content, such as music and movies.Coding formats for audio like MPEG 1 Layer 3 (MP3) have already causedsignificant changes in music delivery to consumers. Despite the advancesin technology, content distributors and broadcasters still need toaddress how to effectively promote and sell content.

This disclosure describes systems and processes for linking audio andother multimedia data objects with metadata and actions via acommunication network, e.g., computer, broadcast, wireless, etc. Mediaobjects are transformed into active, connected objects via identifiersembedded into them or their containers. These identifiers can beembedded by the owner or distributor of the media object, orautomatically created from the media object. In the context of a user'splayback experience, a decoding process extracts the identifier from amedia object and possibly additional context information and forwards itto a server. The server, in turn, maps the identifier to an action, suchas returning metadata, re-directing the request to one or more otherservers, requesting information from another server to identify themedia object, etc. If the identifier has no defined action, the servercan respond with an option for the user to buy the link and control theresulting action for all objects with the current identifier. Thelinking process applies to broadcast objects as well as objectstransmitted over networks in streaming and compressed file formats.

Further features will become apparent with reference to the followingdetailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating examples of media object linkingprocesses and systems.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating media object linking applications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Linking Audio and Other Media Objects ViaIdentifiers

The following sections describe systems and processes for linking audioand other media objects to metadata and actions via an identifier. Forthe sake of illustration, the disclosure focuses on a specific mediatype, namely audio signals (e.g., music, sound tracks of audio visualworks, voice recordings, etc.). However, these systems, their componentsand processes apply to other types of media signals as well, includingvideo, still images, graphical models, etc. As described further below,an identifier attached to an audio signal is used to connect that signalwith metadata and/or programmatic or device actions. In the context ofthis document, the terms “media object” and “audio object” refer to anelectronic form of a media signal and audio signal, respectively. Thelinking of media signals applies to objects that are transmitted overwire networks (such as a computer network), wireless networks (such as awireless telephone network), and broadcast (AM, FM, digital broadcast,etc.).

There are a number of ways to associate an identifier with an audioobject. One way to associate the identifier is to insert it in the formof a numeric or alphanumeric code (e.g., binary or M-ary code) in theelectronic file in which the audio is stored. Another way to associatethe identifier is to embed it as auxiliary data in the audio signalusing steganographic methods, such as digital watermarking or other datahiding techniques. Yet another way is to derive the identifier from theaudio signal, the table of contents, the file system structure, or itscontainer (e.g., an electronic file or physical package for data likeflash memory, Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), minidisk, or compact disk(CD). The physical media may have identifying characteristics, such as aunique identifier or encoded metadata, or other attributes from which anidentifier can be derived (e.g., CD disk wobble).

When the identifier is associated with metadata or actions, ittransforms the media object into a “linked” object. The identifiertravels with the object through distribution, including in some cases,through physical distribution in packaged media and through electronicdistribution (broadcast or network communication). The identifier maytravel within the same band as the audio object, such as a watermark, orvia a separate band, such as a file header or footer or separatebroadcast band. A decoding device or programmatic process extracts theidentifier from the object and uses it to retrieve related data oractions (“metadata”). In the case of an audio object, like a song, themetadata typically includes the title, artist, lyrics, copyright owner,sound recording owner, information about buying or samplingopportunities and URLs to this type of data as well as web sites andother programs and devices. Linked actions include device orprogrammatic processes for electronically establishing a license,transferring content (either streaming or download), sending an email,recording marketing data about a transaction, etc. The identifier allowsa fan of a particular type of music or artist to get more informationabout the music and to buy more music. From the perspective of theartists and record labels, the identifier provides an additionalopportunity to promote their music and sell content, concert tickets,etc.

In addition, in some implementations where identifier linkingtransactions are monitored, it enables the vendors of music to gatherdata about electronic transactions triggered by the link. For example,users of information may choose to provide information about themselveswhen they register their decoding device or software with the system. Auser ID or other context information may then be recorded when theidentifier is extracted and used to trigger a transaction. Many entitiesinvolved in the distribution of media signals can benefit from thelinking capability. Artists can link their music to information aboutthemselves and provide electronic buying opportunities for music,concert tickets, clothing, etc. Rights holding organizations can use thelink to inform users about itself and licensing opportunities. In somecases, the link may also be used to monitor playing and distribution ofcopies of the music. Record labels can link their music to informationabout the artist, the label, electronic buying opportunities, etc.Electronic retailers can increase sales by linking users toopportunities to sample and buy additional music (via download orstreaming delivery over a wire or wireless network). Conventional brickand mortar retailers can use linking to provide information about themusic and to provide buying opportunities. Radio stations and otherbroadcasters can use the linking capability to bring users to their websites, creating advertising revenue, to provide electronic buyingopportunities for music, concert tickets, clothing items, etc. These andother forms of linked metadata and actions may be implemented in variouscombinations in different application scenarios.

Depending on the application, the identifier may identify the mediaobject in which it is embedded, or entities, things or actions otherthan that particular media object. One type of identifier is an objectID that identifies an audio object. This identifier may be a numberassociated with the object, such as its International Standard RecordingCode (ISRC). Another type of identifier is distributor ID thatidentifies the distributor of the audio object. Another type ofidentifier is a broadcaster ID that identifiers the broadcaster of theaudio object. Of course, more than one identifier may be encoded into anaudio object or its container. In the event that an object ID is notencoded with an audio object, but instead, a distributor or broadcasteridentifier is encoded with the object, other context information, suchas the time of play back or distribution, location of distribution, etc.may be used to identify the audio object as part of the linking process.An example is a radio station that marks its broadcasts with a stationID and maintains a playlist database with the air times of each audioobject. At decoding time, the station ID is extracted and used alongwith context information such as the air time of the audio object tolook up the audio object or its corresponding metadata and actions. Thisapproach enables the linking system to provide audio object specificmetadata or actions even without requiring a unique object identifier inevery audio object.

System Implementation

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system configuration of linked media objects.In this configuration, an identifier links audio objects to metadata viaan electronic network, such as the Internet, a wireless network, or abroadcast network. As depicted in FIG. 1, an embedding process may beused to encode an identifier in an audio object or its container. Insome cases, an embedding process encodes the identifier in the audiofile (e.g., a tag in a file header or footer), in the audio signal (adigital watermark), or in the physical packaging. The identifier mayalso be derived as a function of the audio signal or other informationin the file or physical packaging (e.g., track information on a CD). Inthe case of dynamically derived identifiers, an embedding process is notnecessary because the identifier can be derived from the content atdecoding time.

In some application scenarios, the embedding process interacts with aregistration process to get an identifier. The embedding processprovides information about the object (e.g., a title and artist name, anISRC, name of distributor, etc.). In response, the registration processprovides an identifier and stores a database record of the associationbetween identifier and the object or other information used in decodingto identify the object, such as its distributor or broadcaster. Theregistration process may be used to assign an identifier to an audioobject and to distributors or broadcasters of audio objects. Theembedding and registration processes may occur before the audio objectis distributed to consumers, or sometime thereafter, such as when a usertransfers (e.g., “rips”) an a media object from one format to another(e.g., a packaged format to an electronic file format such as acompressed file format).

Once registered, an interactive or automated mapping process associatesthe identifier with data or actions. The registration process creates adatabase of identifiers and associates the identifiers withcorresponding media objects, distributors, broadcasters, etc. Themapping process associates the identifiers with corresponding metadataor actions.

Once associated with an audio object and metadata, the identifiertransforms the audio object into a linked object. The identifier remainswith the object through distribution, although some embedding processesare more robust than others to intentional or unintentionaldistortion/removal of the identifier. There a variety of differentdistribution scenarios. Some examples depicted in FIG. 1 includetransferring an audio object over a computer network, streaming theobject over a computer network, or broadcasting it (e.g., AM/FMbroadcasting, digital broadcasting, broadcasting over wireless carriers,etc.). Whatever the distribution process, a user ultimately receives thelinked object in a player, tuner, or capture device.

To activate the linked object, a decoding process extracts theidentifier and uses it to access associated data or actions. Thedecoding process may be implemented as a separate program or device, orintegrated into a player, tuner, or some other capture device, such aslistening devices that convert ambient audio waves to an electronicsignal and then extract the identifier from the signal.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the decoding process forwards theextracted identifier to a communication application, which in turn,forwards it in a message to a server. The decoding process or thecommunication application may add additional context information to themessage sent to the to a server. The context information may relate tothe user, the user's device, the attributes of the session (time ofplayback, format of playback, type of distribution (e.g., broadcast ortransmitted audio file), etc.) Based on identifier and optional contextinformation, the server determines an associated action to perform, suchas re-directing an identifier or context data to another server,returning metadata (including programs, content, etc.), downloadingcontent, logging a transaction record. To find the associated action oractions, the server maps the identifier to actions based on theinformation established in the mapping process. The server may: 1) lookup the data and actions in a local database stored in its memorysubsystem; 2) route the identifier to one or more other servers via thenetwork, which in turn look up related actions and data associated withthe identifier; or 3) perform some combination of actions 1 and 2.

In the first case, server 1 returns data or actions associated with theidentifier. The server may look up related data based on the identifieralone, or based on the identifier and other context information. Contextinformation may be information provided by the user, by the user'scomputer or device, or by some other process or device. In the secondcase, the server looks up one or more addresses associated with theidentifier and forwards the identifier and/or possibly other contextdata to secondary servers at these addresses via conventional networkingprotocols. Again, this context data may include data from the user, theuser's computer, some other device or database. For example, server 1might query a remote database for instructions about how to process anidentifier. These instruction may specify data to return to thecommunication application or to forward to another server, which inturn, looks up associated data and returns it to the communicationapplication. A server may return data that an audio player displays tothe user or uses to control rendering of the content. For example, theserver can tell the player that the object contains inappropriatecontent for children. The player or user can make decisions aboutwhether or how to play the material based on this information.

Both the server and the player can adopt a set of rules. The serverrules may be used to control what the server returns in response to anidentifier and context data. The player rules may be used to controlwhat the player displays to the user or how it renders the content basedon data returned from a server.

Either the first server, or a server one or more levels of indirectionfrom the identifier may return data and programmatic actions to a playervia the communication application. Each server in these levels ofindirection receives a database key, such as an identifier or contextinformation, from the previous server, and uses it to look upcorresponding actions. These actions may include returning data orprograms to the communication application or to previous servers in therouting path of the message from the communication application. Also,the servers may route requests for information or actions to otherservers. The server or servers may return data or perform actions inresponse to the identifier (or other context data) that do not directlyimpact the decoding process, or the device in which it operates.

The system depicted in FIG. 1 allows several different interestedparties to establish services linked via the identifier. For example,server 1 can be configured to provide generic promotional and/orlicensing information associated with an identifier. If the contentowner, distributor, retailer, artist or other related party wishes toprovide information or services for a connected object, then server 1may also route the identifier for that object, and possibly contextinformation, the address of the communication application, andinstructions, to servers maintained by these entities. These servers, inturn, provide promotional, sales, or licensing information, andelectronic buying or licensing opportunities specific to that entityback to the consumer over the network via the communication application.

In the context of a network configuration, Internet protocols may beused to return data to the communication application or to the device orsystem in which it operates. The communication application may beimplemented in a web browser, such as Internet Explorer or NetscapeNavigator. Examples of ways of exchanging information between a clientplayer and a server include returning a web page with metadata andprogram scripts designed to run on the end user's system. The metadataitself may include active links, such as URLs to other networkresources, such as a web site or some other network service. The path ofthe identifier from the decoding process, and the return path from aserver to the communication application may include one or more hopsthrough a wire or wireless connection using standard wire and wirelesscommunication protocols like TCP/IP, HTTP, XML, WAP, Bluetooth, etc. Inaddition, data returned to the user may be routed through one or moreservers that may forward the data, and in some cases, augment the dataor modify it in some fashion.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating applications of the system depicted inFIG. 1. In the application scenarios depicted in FIG. 2, an embeddingprocess encodes an object identifier (OID) into an audio file, such asan ID3 tag in the header of an MP3 file or audio frame headers in theMP3 file. FIG. 2 shows two embedding scenarios. The first is an MP3distributor that embeds OIDs in MP3 files before transmitting them overa network, such as the Internet, typically via a web site interface. Thesecond is a file ripping process where a programmed computer or otherdevice extracts an audio object from packaged media such as a CD andconverts it into a coded file format like MP3. In the latter case, theripping process may extract metadata from the CD, such as the table ofcontents, and use this metadata as a key to a database (CDDB) to getinformation about the songs on the CD, such as title, artists, etc. Thetable of contents or other metadata from a package medium, such asoptical or magnetic storage or flash memory, may be hashed into an indexto a database entry that stores information about the media signalstored on the medium. The ripping process uses the information returnedfrom the database to identify the audio objects on the packaged media sothat they can be associated with an OID. This is an example ofidentifying information used to associate an OID with an audio object.As part of the coding process, the ripping process inserts the OID inthe file header of the MP3 file.

Later, when a user opens or plays the marked MP3 in a player, such as asoftware player like the real player, Liquid Audio player, Windows MediaPlayer (WMP), WinAmp, MusicMatch, etc., a plug-in software module in theplayer extracts the OID and forwards it to a server via an Internetconnection. The plug-in may establish its own Internet connection, orpass the OID to an Internet Browser, which in turn, establishes aconnection (if one is not already present) with the server. As anintermediate step, the plug-in may display a window with user options,such as “learn more about the song”, “play the song”, or both. The usercan then choose to get more information by actuating the first or thirdoptions in the user interface window, which cause the plug-in to forwardthe OID to the server.

The server then returns a web page associated with the OID, orre-directs the OID to another server (e.g., one maintained by thecontent distributor or owner), which in turn, returns a web page ofinformation about the object and links to related actions (e.g., a linkto a licensing server, a link to a server for buying and downloadingrelated music etc.). The licensing server may be programmed to downloadsoftware players and new music offerings compatible with those players.For instance, the licensing server may provide software for decrypting,decoding, and playing electronically distributed music according tousage rules packaged with the electronically distributed music. In thisapplication scenario, the linking of the MP3 file enables the contentowner to market music and products that promote the sale of audioobjects in other formats, included formats protected with encryption,watermark copy managements schemes, etc.

In the event that a media object is not linked, the decoding and serverprocesses can be programmed to enable the user to purchase a link forthe object. For example in one scenario, the player plug-in displays agraphic for a link information indicating that the link is availableafter determining that an OID is not in the file. If the user clicks onthe graphic, the plug-in displays more information about the procedurefor purchasing or renting a link. This information may be provided inconjunction with querying the server and displaying information returnedfrom the server, or alternatively, providing pre-programmed informationincorporated into the plug-in. If the user is interested in purchasingthe link, he or she can then enter input (e.g., click on a button suchas “Get Link”) that initiates the process of registering an OID with theobject and associating metadata or actions with the OID. The process ofregistering the OID and associating the OID with metadata or actions maybe performed as described in this document. This scenario provides yetanother mechanism for transforming content into connected content.

There are many possible variations to the applications scenariosillustrated in FIG. 2. During the file ripping process (or some otherembedding process), the embedder may generate a unique ID from themetadata read from the packaged media on which the media object resides.One example of such an ID is the number derived from CD metadatacurrently used to index information in the CDDB database. This ID maythen be embedded in the audio object or its file header/footer. DuringOID registration, the registration process may inform the embeddingprocess that the OID (and thus, the object for which it was derived) hasnot been associated with metadata or actions. In this case, the user maybe given an opportunity to purchase the link, either at the time ofripping, or in the future, wherever the object travels. In the lattercase, the OID in the object is associated with an option to buy the linkand customize the data and/or actions associated with that link. Ratherthan link to promotional information, the OID gives users an option tobuy or rent the link and provides them with an opportunity to customizeit (e.g., linking it to a custom web site). Once customized, other usersthat open or play the file will then be able to link to the customizedinformation or actions.

To assert control over the type of customization that users may perform,the registration and mapping processes can place constraints on thetypes of metadata and actions that users can link to a media object.

In the multimedia content industry, there are typically many rightsholders and entities involved in the distribution process. This maypresent a conflict when linking a media object to one entity. One way toaddress this problem is have an object link to many different entities.For example, the server could map an OID to many entities and returnlinks to retailers, distributors, record labels and artists. Another wayto address it is to encode additional information about the distributorin the OID. For example, the OID includes fields that identify theobject and its distributor. If a user activates the link to purchaseproducts, including media objects, then the distributor name is loggedwith the purchase and that distributor is credited with royaltiesassociated with the transaction. The distributor field may also be usedas a key to look up the appropriate action for the OID, such asre-directing the OID to the web server of the entity associated withthat OID. In this approach, even if the OID directs a user to a recordlabel's website, the distributor field can be used to credit thedistributor with a royalty for the linking transaction.

The entity responsible for maintaining a web site linked via onidentifier can make deals with online resources for providing data abouta media object such as lyrics, song titles, radio station play lists.The website may link to this information, access it via a databasemanager, etc.

File Identifiers

One form of identifier is an identifier that is inserted in an audioobject file, but in a distinct field from the audio signal itself. Someexamples are file headers and footers. This file identifier may beassigned before or after distribution of the audio object to consumers.In addition, it may be derived from the audio signal or otherinformation in the file. For example, an identifier generator may derivea unique or sufficiently unique identifier from a portion of a musicsignal. A variety of methods for generating a unique numbers based on aunique collection of numbers may be used.

The process of embedding a file identifier may be done at the time ofencoding or transcoding a file. For example, the file identifier may beinserted during a ripping process, such as when a device or programmaticprocess converts a song from a format stored on packaged media, like aCD or DVD, to an electronic, and compressed form, such as MP3 or someother audio codec. As another example, the file identifier may beinserted when a device or programmatic process transcodes an electronicmusic file from one codec format to another. Yet another example iswhere a file is taken from a digital or analog uncompressed format, andplaced in another format for distribution.

Identifiers Embedded in Audio Signal

Another way to associate an identifier with an audio signal is to embedthe identifier in the audio signal using steganographic methods, such asdigital watermarking or other data hiding techniques. Many of suchtechniques have been developed and are described in published articlesand patents. Watermarking methods are described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/503,881. Other examples of methods for encodingand decoding auxiliary signals into audio signals include U.S. Pat. Nos.5,862,260, 5,940,135 and 5,945,932. For more information onsteganographic applications, see the patent applications incorporated byreference.

The steganographic embedding method may be performed in a batch process.Consider a distributor of electronic music via the Internet or someother network, or a broadcaster of music such as a radio station. Ineach case, the distributor and broadcaster have a collection of audioobjects. The embedding process may operate on this collection of objectsin a batch process by retrieving an electronic version, encoding anidentifier obtained from the registration process, and returning themarked version for later distribution or broadcasting. In some cases, itis desirable to do watermark embedding in an iterative process in astudio environment to encode the watermark with an intensity thatachieves desired perceptibility and robustness requirements.

The steganographic embedding method may also be performed at the time oftransmission of an electronic file or broadcast of the audio object. Inthe case of distribution via a network such as the Internet (e.g.,streaming or file download), real time embedding enables the embeddingprocess to also embed context information that is specific to theconsumer (or the consumer's computer) that has electronically orderedthe object. For example, when the user requests a file in a streaming ora compressed file format via the Internet using her browser, thedistributor's server can request information (perhaps voluntary) aboutthe user to be associated with the transmitted object. Later, thedecoding process or the servers that map the identifier to actions ormetadata can use this information to determine the types of informationto provide or responsive action to perform.

In the case of broadcasting, real time embedding enables the identifierto be steganographically embedded throughout an electronic version ofthe audio signal just before, or as part of the broadcasting process.

An object or distributor ID (as well as other identifiers or contextinformation) can be embedded in the payload of a watermark that is alsoused for copy control. Portion of the watermark can be used to controlwhether the object can be played, transferred, recorded, etc., whileanother part can be used to carry identifiers and other metadata forlinking functions described in this document. Alternatively, entirelyseparate watermark encoding and decoding methods may be used for copycontrol and linking functions.

A watermarking process may be used to encode different watermarks in thevarious channels of an audio signal. Message information may be embeddedin one or more channels, while synchronization or orientation signalsused to detect and decode the message information may be encoded inother channels. Also, different messages (e.g., different identifiers)may be encoded in different channels. At decoding time, the differentidentifiers can trigger different actions or link to different data.

In broadcasting applications, an identifier may be encoded along withthe broadcast of the associated media signal by modulating a subcarrierof the main carrier frequency used to transmit the media signal. Thesubcarrier conveys auxiliary data such as the identifier, while the maincarrier conveys the associated media signal To reduce audibility of theauxiliary data (e.g., the identifier(s)) encoded in the sub-carrier, thedata can be randomized by applying it to a pseudorandom or random numberby some function that may be inverted in the decoding process, e.g.,multiplication or exclusive OR functions. One example of sub-carrierencoding and decoding is Active HSDS 97 developed by Seiko Corporation.

Identifiers in Digital Radio Broadcasts

Some forms of digital radio broadcasts support transmission of metadataalong with media signals. This metadata can also be used to carry one ormore identifiers that are mapped to metadata or actions. The metadatacan be encoded at the time of broadcast or prior to broadcasting.Decoding of the identifier may be performed at the digital receiver. Inparticular, the digital receiver receives the broadcast data, extractsthe identifier, and either automatically, or at the user's direction,forwards the identifier to a server to look up the associated metadataor action.

Dynamic Identifier Extraction from Audio Content or Related Data

As noted above, another way to associate an identifier with acorresponding audio signal is to derive the identifier from the signal.This approach has the advantage that the embedding process isunnecessary. Instead, the decoding process can generate the identifierfrom the audio object. In this case, the decoder computes a fingerprintof the audio signal based on a specified fingerprinting algorithm, Thefingerprint is a number derived from a digital audio signal that servesas a statistically unique identifier of that signal, meaning that thereis a high probability that the fingerprint was derived from the audiosignal in question. One component of fingerprint algorithm is a hashalgorithm. The hash algorithm may be applied to a selected portion of amusic file (e.g., the first 10 seconds) to create a fingerprint. It maybe applied to discrete samples in this portion, or to attributes thatare less sensitive to typical audio processing. Examples of lesssensitive attributes include most significant bits of audio samples or alow pass filtered version of the portion. Examples of hashing algorithmsinclude MD5, MD2, SHA, SHA1.

As an aside, fingerprinting may also be used to determine whether anaudio signal has been watermarked. The fingerprinting application canevaluate a fingerprint for a received object and compare it with one fora watermarked object (or unmarked object) to determine whether theobject is likely to be watermarked. Certain fingerprints can beassociated with certain types of watermark methods. Using thefingerprint, a decoding device can select an appropriate watermarkdecoding system for the object.

While specifically discussed in the context of audio objects, thefingerprinting process applies to other types of multimedia content aswell, including still images, video, graphics models, etc. For stillimages and video, the identifier can be derived dynamically from acompressed or uncompressed version of the image or video signal. Thefingerprinting process may be tuned to generate a specific identifierbased on the type of file format. For example, the process extracts thefile format from the file (e.g., from a header or footer), then uses afingerprinting process tailored for that type of file (e.g., a hash of acompressed image or video frame). The dynamic identifier computed bythis process may be associated with metadata and/or actions using theprocesses and systems described in this document.

Registration Process

One way to implement the registration process is to build client andserver application programs that communicate over a computer networkusing standard network communication protocols. The client may beimplemented as a software program that provides identifying informationabout an audio object. It can obtain the information by prompting theuser for the identifying information, or from extracting it from theaudio object or its container. The server may be implemented as adatabase management program that manages identifiers and correspondingaudio objects. When queried to provide an identifier for particularidentifying information, the program checks whether it has alreadyassigned an identifier to an object based on the identifyinginformation. If so, it returns that identifier that has already beenassigned. If not, it assigns a new identifier number, creates a newentry in the database for that number and its associated identifyinginformation.

The type of identifier used to link audio objects varies with theapplication. As such, the registration process may vary as well. Onetype of identifier is a unique identifier for an audio object. Anothertype of identifier is one that identifies some attribute of the audioobject, but does not uniquely identify it, such as a distributor orbroadcaster identifier. This type of identifier requires additionalcontext information to uniquely identify the audio object at the time oflinking it to actions or metadata. For these types of identifiers, theregistration process provides information identifying the attribute ofthe audio object, such as its distributor or broadcaster. In response,the server provides an identifier that may be embedded in several audioobjects that share that attribute.

One example is a broadcaster ID, such as a radio station ID. Audiobroadcast by the radio station is embedded with this radio station ID.To identify the object, context information such as the play timecaptured at the tuner is used along with the radio station ID extractedfrom the received audio signal to identify the audio object. Thedecoding process forwards this information to a server. Using the radiostation ID and context information, the server maps the ID to anappropriate action. This may include querying a radio station's playlistdatabase for an object identifier based on the station ID and contextinformation. The server can then map the object identifier to an actionor metadata based on the object ID returned from the playlist database.Other scenarios are possible. For example, the server could forward thestation ID, context data and decoder address to a radio station server,which in turn, looks up the appropriate action or metadata (e.g., webpage) and sends it to the device that decoded the station ID.

Broadcast content can also be associated with object identifiers. Oneway to implement the identifier assignment process is to allocate aunique set of identifiers with each broadcaster/distributor. Thosebroadcasters or distributors are then free to assign the identifiers tomedia objects as they wish. Once they complete the identifier assignmentprocess, they may then associate the identifiers with the metadata oractions in a mapping process.

Embedding Process

The embedding process may be integrated into a software program alongwith the client of the registration process described in the previoussection. This integration of registration and embedding functions isparticularly suited to a batch embedder, where processing time requiredto request an identifier is less of a concern.

In real time embedding, the identifier or identifiers are preferablyavailable for associated audio objects before embedding begins. Forexample, the identifiers can be maintained in a local database on theembedding computer or device and indexed by object title. Distributorand broadcast identifiers are more straightforward because they may beapplied to several different audio objects.

The embedding process may also be implemented in an embeddingclearinghouse system. The embedding clearinghouse is a computer or otherelectronic system that analyzes media objects and embeds one or morelinks in the media objects. The clearinghouse may be implemented in aserver on a network, such as the Internet and operate on content in a“push,” “pull,” or some combination of push and pull models. In the pushmodel, users and other systems send media objects to the embeddingclearinghouse for analysis and embedding. The pull model, theclearinghouse has the capability to search for and gather media objectsfor embedding and analysis. One example of this pull model is anInternet search process called a spider that crawls the Internet,searching for media objects to analyze and embed with one or moreidentifying links.

The embedding clearinghouse analyzes a media object (perhaps based onout of band data like a file header or footer) and inserts anidentifier. This identifier may link to a metadata and actions, such asre-direction to a web site offering products, services, and informationrelated to the content. The embedding clearinghouse may incorporatesearch engine technology to execute a key word search based oninformation from the media object and then associate the media objectwith a series of related URLs returned from the Internet search. Theprocess may be automatic, or with some user input to select whichsub-set of links should be inserted.

The embedding clearinghouse may also offer an identifier embeddingservices for those wanting to link their media objects with metadata,actions, etc. In this application scenario, the embedding clearinghousemay be implemented as an Internet server that is accessible via a webpage using conventional network communication and web protocols. Toaccess the server, users visit a web page using an Internet browser. Inexchange for a fee, which may be tendered electronically over theInternet from the user's computer to the server, the server provides anembedding service to embed an identifier into a media object uploadedfrom the user via the user's computer and Internet connection. The usercan select the information to associate with a media object, such asgeneric identifying information (e.g., title, author, owner), genericlicensing information, or special information or actions. The genericinformation is hosted by the provider of the embedding clearinghouseserver, while the special purpose information and actions are accessedthrough re-direction. In particular, the provider of the clearinghouseserver links the embedded identifier to an address or set of addressesof servers that provide the special information or actions. Then atdecoding time, the decoding process sends the identifier to theprovider's server, which in turn, redirects the identifier to asecondary server or servers that provide special purpose information oractions (e.g., redirect to a web page of the content owner, downloadrelated content, provide electronic licensing services, etc.).

Decoding the Id and Embedded Context Data

The implementation details of the decoding process depend on how theidentifier is encoded into an audio object or its container. In the casewhere the identifier is encoded in a file header or footer, the decodermay be a software program or digital hardware that parses theheader/footer and forwards it to the communication application. One wayto implement this type of decoder is to integrate it into a media playeras a plug in program. Examples of media players include Windows MediaPlayer from Microsoft, Liquid Audio player from Liquid Audio, Winamp,Real Player from Real Networks. Preferably, the plug-in gives the uservisual feedback that the identifier has been detected and displays awindow with options to access more information or actions available viathe link. For example, the user can be presented with a user interfacesprompting the user to click for more information or buyingopportunities. If the user selects these options, the plug-in forwardsthe user selections and identifier to the communication application,which forwards them to the server (e.g., server 1, FIG. 1).

In the case where the identifier is steganographically encoded in theaudio object, a corresponding decoder extracts the identifier. This typeof decoder may be implemented as a plug in to a software player asdescribed in the previous paragraph. It may also be implemented in atuner for broadcast content, or in a listening device that capturesaudio from the ambient environment.

In the case where the identifier is derived from the content orcontainer metadata, the decoder captures the pertinent portion of theaudio object, and generates the identifier as described above. This typeof decoder can be implemented in a software or hardware player, a tuner,etc.

The decoder may collect identifiers in response to a user request whileobjects containing these identifiers are being played. For example, whenthe user is playing music, he may like a song and want to buy it or getmore information. This feature may be implemented by building aninterface that has a button or voice recognition that enables the userto request information or a buy/license opportunity. Once captured,identifiers can be forwarded along with user instructions to theappropriate server.

However, one particularly useful feature is to enable the user to fetchinformation and make orders from music as the music is playing. Thesystem described previously supports this feature because the decodingprocess can forward the identifier or identifiers, embedded contextinformation, or additional context information (user information, playtime, broadcast type, file type, player type, operating system type) tothe communication application as the music is playing. The user cantrigger the linking action by pressing a “fetch” button, or saying fetchto a voice activated input device that causes the decoding device topackage a message and invoke the communication application (e.g.,Internet browser). In turn, the communication application forwards themessage to a server that parses the message and determines theassociated action.

The activation of the “fetch it” feature may be made on a handhelddevice that communicates with a decoding device in a tuner via awireless connection. For example, a user may press a button on a remotecontrol device, like a key chain, which sends a wireless signal to areceiver in the tuner. The receiver invokes the decoding process. Thetuner may also send metadata from the server to the remote controldevice for display using a similar wireless connection. Infrared or RFtransceivers, for example, may be used to communicate the data back andforth.

The decoding device may also provide continuous decoding of identifiers.When the user requests a “fetch,” the identifier and context informationfor the current song may be forwarded to the server. Also, the decodingdevice may automatically fetch generic information such as song titleand artist so that this information is immediately available to theuser.

Another possible implementation is to temporarily buffer identifiersextracted from some predetermined number of the most recent songs,titles, etc. These identifiers can be stored along with other metadata,such as a time stamp, to inform the user when they were captured. Theuser can then select one or more of the items to send to the server formore information or related actions.

These features may be implemented in one or more devices. While theexample above discusses a remote control device and a separate tunerwith a decoder, these functions may be integrated into a single device,such as a car stereo, phone handset, personal digital assistant, and avariety of other types of players or tuners. The identifier enablesdynamic linking. Dynamic linking enables the identifier encoded with amedia object to remain fixed, while the metadata or actions associatedwith that identifier can be changed. To change the associated metadata,the mapping process edits the identifier database to associate newmetadata or actions with an identifier. The mapping process can beautomated to change metadata or actions associated with an identifier atperiodic intervals or in response to system events. In addition, a usermay change the associated metadata or actions interactively at any time.To facilitate access to the database, a web based interface can be addedto the database.

Dynamically linked data returned from a server to a player environmentcan be displayed to the user in a variety of ways. One way is to displayit in a web page or user interface window of a player. The data can beanimated by scrolling it across the visual display. The data can also bedisplayed in the form of HTML links, which, when activated, cause thedownload of other data or initiate actions, such as playing streamingcontent from a server.

Server Types

As discussed elsewhere, the servers used to link identifiers to actionsmay be programmed to provide a variety of actions including:

-   -   returning data and HTML links (e.g., in the form of an HTML        document, scripts, etc.)    -   downloading media signals in streaming or file format    -   performing an electronic transaction (selling products like CDs,        DVDs, concert tickets, etc. via computer transaction using        credit cards, digital money, etc.)    -   establishing a license to use a linked media object    -   re-directing to another server    -   performing database look up operations for related information,        links, actions    -   performing database look up to uniquely identify a media object        based on distributor/broadcaster ID and other context        information    -   creating a transaction log

This is by no means in exhaustive list. Another type of server action isto initiate a process of searching a database, a collection of databasesor the Internet for additional information related to a linked mediaobject. This type of search service may be performed continuously andthe results associated with the identifier. Then, in response to arequest from a decoding process, the server can return a digest of theresults with links to web pages for additional information.

Communication Application

The implementation details of the communication application are highlydependent on the type of communication link and protocols used toconnect the decoding process to a server. Above, an Internet browser isprovided as an example. A browser may be implemented in conventionalPCs, handheld devices, wireless phones, stereo systems, set top boxes,etc. However, the communication application need not be based oncomputer network protocols. For wireless devices, where the markedcontent is played on wireless carrier frequencies, the communicationapplication can employ wireless communication technology to forwardidentifiers and context information to servers that map this informationto actions or metadata and return it via a wireless carrier frequency touser's handset.

Tracking Transactions and Report Generation

As depicted in FIG. 1 and described above, the servers for mappingidentifiers to actions may be programmed to dispense a transaction loginto a log file. A report generation process can then enable users todefine and request queries of data from the log file based on aparticular identifier, a particular type of context information (timeframe, geographic location, user demographics, etc.), a particularaction, etc.

Capture Devices

As noted above, the decoding process may be implemented in a variety ofdevices or software that process media objects. These devices andsoftware include programmable devices such as personal computers,personal digital assistants, telephone handsets, set-top boxes, personalstereos, hi-fi components, tuners, receivers, televisions, etc. as wellas hardwired devices that may be incorporated into these systems anddevices.

In some contexts, it is useful to implement a recording function. Thisis particularly true in devices that receive a broadcast or stream ofmedia content and need to capture at least a portion of it to decode anidentifier. Examples of these devices are radio receivers, and wirelesstelephone handsets. The record function may be automatic or useractivated. In the latter case, the user actuates an input device tocontrol the record process and optionally the record duration. Forexample, the user may hear a song that she likes and press record. Thedevice, in turn, records at least a part of the object that is currentlybeing received (an audio, visual or audio visual signal). The user canthen decide contemporaneously or at a later time to execute theidentifier decoding process on the recorded signal. The recordingfunction can be designed to execute for a pre-determined or userspecified duration.

In the case of radio and television tuners/receivers, the recordfunction can be used to capture a media signal as it is received. In thecase of a telephone handset, the record function can be used for avariety of functions, such as recording part of a telephoneconversation, recording speech or other ambient audio through amicrophone, or recording a media signal received by the handset via awireless communication channel. The recordings can be compressed andstored in local memory on the device. In addition, they may be annotatedwith metadata about the media signal, such as a time stamp to show timeof capture, a location stamp to show location of capture, metadataextracted from the object (in band or out of band data), etc. Thelocation stamp may be provided by a global positioning device. Somewireless phone systems are capable of computing location of a telephonehandset via triangulation. This location data may be used to providegeographic location coordinates or the name of nearby landmark, cityname, etc.

The metadata may be displayed on a display device to help the userremember the context of a particular recording. In addition, it may beprovided as context information along with an identifier to a serverthat links the identifier and context information to metadata oractions.

Transmarking

In some applications, it may be useful to convert auxiliary informationembedded in a media signal from one format to another. This convertingprocess is referred to as transmarking. Transmarking may includeconverting an out of band identifier like a tag in a header/footer to awatermark or vice versa. It may also involve converting a message in onewatermark format to another. The process involves a decoding operatingon an input media object, and an encoding of the decoded informationinto the media object. It may also involve a process for removing themark originally in the input object to avoid interference with the newlyinserted mark.

There are a variety of reasons to perform transmarking. One is to makethe embedded information more robust to the types of processing that themedia object is likely to encounter, such as converting from onewatermark used in packaged media to another watermark used incompressed, and electronically distributed media, or a watermark used inradio or wireless phone broadcast transmission applications.

This type of transmarking process may be performed at various stages ofa media object's distribution path. As suggest previously, an identifierin a watermark or file header/footer may be encoded at the time ofpackaging the content for distribution, either in an electronicdistribution format or a physical packaged medium, such as an opticaldisk or magnetic memory device. At some point, the media signal may beconverted from one format to another. This format conversion stage is anopportunity to perform transmarking that is tailored for the new formatin terms of robustness and perceptibility concerns. The new format maybe a broadcast format such as digital radio broadcast, or AM or FM radiobroadcast. In this case, the identifier may be transmarked into awatermark or other metadata format that is robust for broadcastapplications. The new format may be a compressed file format (e.g.,ripping from an optical disk to an MP3 format). In this case, theidentifier may be transmarked into a file header/footer or watermarkformat that is robust and compatible with the compressed file format.

The transmarking process may leave an existing embedded identifier intact and layer an additional identifier into the media object. This mayinclude encoding a new watermark that does not interfere with anexisting watermark (e.g., insert the new watermark in unmarked portionsof the media object or in a non-interfering transform domain). It mayalso include adding additional or new identifier tags to headers orfooters in the file format.

Amplifying an Embedded Identifier

Rather than converting embedded data to another format, an amplifyingprocess may be used to renew an identifier that has become weakened orseparated due to processing of the media object in which it is embedded.In this case, an decoder and encoder pair may be used to determine thecurrent identifier and re-encode it. Of course, the encoder can alsochoose to embed a new or additional identifiers as well.

If the previous identifier is lost, the encoder can query an identifierdatabase established in the registration process, passing identifyinginformation about the media object. The database uses the identifyinginformation to find an associated identifier and returns it to theencoder for embedding in the media object.

Concluding Remarks

Having described and illustrated the principles of the technology withreference to specific implementations, it will be recognized that thetechnology can be implemented in many other, different, forms. Toprovide a comprehensive disclosure without unduly lengthening thespecification, applicants incorporate by reference the patents andpatent applications referenced above. These patents and patentapplications provide additional implementation details. They describeways to implement processes and components of the systems describedabove. Processes and components described in these applications may beused in various combinations, and in some cases, interchangeably withprocesses and components described above.

The particular combinations of elements and features in theabove-detailed embodiments are exemplary only; the interchanging andsubstitution of these teachings with other teachings in this and theincorporated-by-reference patents/applications are also contemplated.

1. A method comprising: using a microphone, capturing data representingambient audio; using a programmed electronic processor, analyzingcaptured data to extract identifying information therefrom;communicating the identifying information to a remotely locateddatabase; in response to said communicating, receiving music informationassociated with the identifying information, said music informationincluding licensing options for a general type of music associated withthe captured data.
 2. The method of claim 1 in which the musicinformation also includes purchase options for a specific song title forthe capture data.
 3. The method of claim 1 in which the identifyinginformation comprises fingerprint information.
 4. The method of claim 1in which the identifying information comprises extracted digitalwatermarking information.
 5. A wireless phone programmed for executingthe method of claim
 1. 6. A computer readable medium comprisinginstructions stored thereon, said instructions cause an electronicprocessor to perform the method of claim
 1. 7. The method of claim 1 inwhich said music information comprises an email.
 8. A computing devicecomprising an electronic processor programmed to carry out the method ofclaim
 1. 9. A method comprising: using a microphone, capturing datarepresenting ambient audio; using a programmed electronic processor,analyzing captured data to extract identifying information therefrom;communicating the identifying information to a remotely locateddatabase; in response to said communicating, receiving music informationassociated with the identifying information; sending an email comprisingat least a portion of said music information.
 10. The method of claim 9in which said music information comprises licensing or purchaseinformation associated with the captured data, and in which thelicensing or purchase information is included in the email.
 11. Themethod of claim 9 in which the music information comprises a link to buya song associated with the captured data, and in which the link to buyis included in the email.
 12. The method of claim 9 in which theidentifying information comprises fingerprint information.
 13. Themethod of claim 9 in which the identifying information comprisesextracted digital watermarking information.
 14. A wireless phoneprogrammed for executing the method of claim
 9. 15. A computer readablemedium comprising instructions stored thereon, said instructions causean electronic processor to perform the method of claim
 9. 16. Acomputing device comprising an electronic processor programmed to carryout the method of claim
 9. 17. An apparatus comprising: a microphone forcapturing data representing ambient audio; electronic memory forbuffering data captured by said microphone; an electronic processorprogrammed for: analyzing captured data to extract identifyinginformation therefrom; controlling communication of the identifyinginformation to a remotely located database; controlling handling ofreceipt of music information associated with the identifyinginformation, said music information including licensing options for ageneral type of music associated with the captured data.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 17 in which said electronic processor is operating toperform at least one of the functions recited therein.
 19. The apparatusof claim 17 in which said microphone is operating to capture datarepresenting ambient audio.
 20. The apparatus of claim 17 in which themusic information also includes purchase options for a specific songtitle for the capture data.
 21. The apparatus of claim 17 in which theidentifying information comprises fingerprint information.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 17 in which the identifying information comprisesextracted digital watermarking information.
 23. The apparatus of claim17 in which the music information comprises an email.
 24. A wirelessphone comprising the apparatus of claim
 17. 25. An apparatus comprising:a microphone for capturing data representing ambient audio; electronicmemory for buffering data captured by said microphone; an electronicprocessor programmed for: analyzing captured data to extract identifyinginformation therefrom; controlling communication of the identifyinginformation to a remotely located database; controlling handling ofreceipt of music information associated with the identifyinginformation, controlling sending an email comprising at least a portionof said music information.
 26. The apparatus of claim 25 in which saidmusic information comprises licensing or purchase information associatedwith the captured data, and in which the licensing or purchaseinformation is included in the email.
 27. The apparatus of claim 25 inwhich the music information comprises a link to buy a song associatedwith the captured data, and in which the link to buy is included in theemail.
 28. The apparatus of claim 25 in which the identifyinginformation comprises fingerprint information.
 29. The apparatus ofclaim 25 in which the identifying information comprises extracteddigital watermarking information.
 30. A wireless phone comprising theapparatus of claim
 25. 31. The apparatus of claim 25 in which saidelectronic processor is operating to perform at least one of thefunctions recited therein.
 32. The apparatus of claim 25 in which saidmicrophone is operating to capture data representing ambient audio.